5 ms·

One of my co-workers told me in 2012 that he was doing exactly this. He used an ebook reader to download free ebooks from Gutenberg and then the IVONA text to

One of my co-workers told me in 2012 that he was doing exactly this. He used an ebook reader to download free ebooks from Gutenberg and then the IVONA text to speech engine for Android to listen to them on his drives. He had already finished a few classics like Treasure Island this way. I'm sure things have improved significantly since 2012 so what you're looking for is probably easily done.

degenerate 9y ago
If your co-worker could share how he did this, it would be appreciated (specifically, what apps/code needs to be run).
- thorum 9y ago
  Not the coworker, but I've been doing this for a couple years. If you're on iOS, the simplest option is Voice Dream Reader [1]. It can read .epub files directly, along with text files and webpages, and integrates with Dropbox, Pocket, Gutenberg, etc. On Android, you can get Voice Dream Reader (though it has less features than on iOS) or @Voice Aloud Reader which is free [2]. [1] http://www.voicedream.com/reader/ http://www.voicedream.com/reader/ [2] http://www.hyperionics.com/atVoice/ http://www.hyperionics.com/atVoice/
  - woodson 9y ago
    It also works reasonably well for academic papers as PDF. Equations get butchered, of course, but overall it's not bad (you can set PDF margins so that headers/footers are not read out aloud on every page). I use it to proof-read my own writing, it helps you spot things that spelling/grammer checkers miss.
- exhilaration 9y ago
  For Android take a look at this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MAHg31ucDhY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MAHg31ucDhY
- sangnoir 9y ago
  I have been doing this on Android for a few years using Ivona, FBReader with the FBReader TTS+ Plugin. I got Ivona (beta) from the Play Store before they were bought by Amazon - it looks like Ivona voices have since been pulled and are no longer available.
mtgx 9y ago
Google's "cloud-based" TTS (not the local one, which was terrible) on the Play Books app was pretty good even years ago. However, it was unusable because it would stop as soon as the screen would turn-off. Other ebook readers' read-aloud features worked with the screen off. So thanks for nothing Google!
- yegle 9y ago
  That's not my experience, as I can turn off the screen and still read the book. I tested it just now.
  - tommygunz99 9y ago
    Android is different for each person
- andygates 9y ago
  It used to stop; it's been well-behaved for at least a year. I use it daily!

degenerate 9y ago

If your co-worker could share how he did this, it would be appreciated (specifically, what apps/code needs to be run).

thorum 9y ago
Not the coworker, but I've been doing this for a couple years. If you're on iOS, the simplest option is Voice Dream Reader [1]. It can read .epub files directly, along with text files and webpages, and integrates with Dropbox, Pocket, Gutenberg, etc. On Android, you can get Voice Dream Reader (though it has less features than on iOS) or @Voice Aloud Reader which is free [2]. [1] http://www.voicedream.com/reader/ http://www.voicedream.com/reader/ [2] http://www.hyperionics.com/atVoice/ http://www.hyperionics.com/atVoice/
- woodson 9y ago
  It also works reasonably well for academic papers as PDF. Equations get butchered, of course, but overall it's not bad (you can set PDF margins so that headers/footers are not read out aloud on every page). I use it to proof-read my own writing, it helps you spot things that spelling/grammer checkers miss.
exhilaration 9y ago
For Android take a look at this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MAHg31ucDhY https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MAHg31ucDhY
sangnoir 9y ago
I have been doing this on Android for a few years using Ivona, FBReader with the FBReader TTS+ Plugin. I got Ivona (beta) from the Play Store before they were bought by Amazon - it looks like Ivona voices have since been pulled and are no longer available.

mtgx 9y ago

Google's "cloud-based" TTS (not the local one, which was terrible) on the Play Books app was pretty good even years ago. However, it was unusable because it would stop as soon as the screen would turn-off. Other ebook readers' read-aloud features worked with the screen off. So thanks for nothing Google!

yegle 9y ago
That's not my experience, as I can turn off the screen and still read the book. I tested it just now.
- tommygunz99 9y ago
  Android is different for each person
andygates 9y ago
It used to stop; it's been well-behaved for at least a year. I use it daily!